Multi-Factor Authentication

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is a simple solution that adds an extra layer of security to your organisation’s systems and data. Once MFA has been implemented within your organisation, users will be required to verify their identify through two different methods before they can access the system. The most common first barrier is still username and password, which is unfortunately not enough against advanced attacks. MFA then adds a second barrier such as an authenticator app (we recommend the Microsoft Authenticator app), text message, or fingerprint.

Learn more about MFA here.

Cyber Essentials Certification

The Cyber Essentials Certification is a UK Government-backed scheme that has been designed to help organisations learn how to prevent and protect against basic cyber threats. To achieve the Cyber Essentials Certification, organisations must demonstrate that they have a foundational level of security in place within its IT architecture. Many cyber-attacks are very juvenile in nature and can be thwarted with basic protection, the Cyber Essentials Certification ensures organisations have the knowledge that they need to recognise these threats. It is also increasingly becoming a requirement from organisations within the public sector, that they will only work with organisations that have the certification.

Learn more about the Cyber Essentials Accreditation here.

Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365

Microsoft provides many powerful services within Microsoft 365 (M365), but a comprehensive backup of M365 data is unfortunately not one of them. As confirmed in the Microsoft Shared Responsibility model, the backup of data is the sole responsibility of the organisation. Unprotected data is at risk of security threats, accidental or intentional deletion, and retention policy gaps. To keep your data safe, we recommend implementing Veeam Backup for M365. This eliminates the risk of losing access and control over your organisation’s data, including Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, OneDrive for Business, and Microsoft Teams.

Learn more about Veeam Backup for M365 here.

If you would like to learn more about any of the solutions discussed above or would like to arrange a chat to find out how we can help your organisation specifically, please email sales@cloudcoverit.co.uk or call 0141 280 2882.

Watch our Sales & Marketing Director Owen Smith discuss How to Protect Your Organisation from Cyber-Attacks:

The post How to Protect Your Organisation from Cyber Risks appeared first on Flyte.

Congratulations on Cloud Cover IT’s 10th birthday! How do you feel about celebrating a decade of the business?

I feel proud of what we are continuing to build. It has been interesting to see how the company has grown over the 10 years, and not only that it has been able to adapt but also thrives on adapting as technology moves.  

Tech moves quickly, how would you say Cloud Cover IT has evolved through the last 10 years and how has the company adapted to changes?

It really does move quickly, just this morning I’ve been with my team looking at a brand-new Microsoft Power Apps feature that we think will have lots of applications for the things we build, proving that technology literally moves on a day-to-day basis.

Even going back to the very start of the company, Lance and I had a discussion about what the company name should be. We talked through various options, including Cloud Cover. I was a bit unsure as I didn’t quite know where the industry was going at that point, but it was the start of the Cloud boom within large organisations, and Lance predicted that in the next few years every organisation would be reliant on Cloud-based services. He was right, so he was ahead of the curve there.

It has been interesting to see how the different departments within the business have grown alongside the changes within different areas of IT, and how agile and quickly the business has adapted.

You joined the company in 2019 as Head of Digital Transformation. What does digital transformation mean to you, and can you tell us about the work your team carries out?

To me, digital transformation brings together two key elements: a deep understanding of what a company or team is trying to achieve, and the skills of my team in knowing where technology can help to do that better. Systems only ever work where the people who use them see real value, so as the name suggests any transformation needs to bring real value to the company and individuals doing it. The incredible digital tools available now provide a real opportunity for companies to do things better and more efficiently, allowing the staff involved to focus on bringing real value to the things that humans do better.

There is a lot of competition within the tech industry – what sets your team apart?

We established the company by saying that we would be great at the human part of IT. We achieve this by focusing on User-centric design when developing any solutions for our clients. With a background in product design, we have grown the Digital Transformation team to work with this process when we engage with any of our clients as no two are alike. By combining this with our multidisciplinary development team we aim to deliver successful Microsoft 365 Solutions.

What would you say are the main motivators for your team?

Being able to bring leading technology to our clients and seeing how our solutions are benefiting day-to-day working lives motivates us. My team are also always excited to continue learning and we enjoy keeping up with the latest technology. As we all know, Microsoft’s innovation cycles are fast and constantly moving all of their products forward – the team are always up for the challenge of trying new things and more importantly identifying where it will benefit our clients.

One thing we like to say here at CCIT is that we are the best at the ‘human part of IT’. What does this mean to you?

We all know that IT can be stressful for people as not everyone has the same level of technical understanding. For me, the human part is understanding this and being able to recognise when it is necessary to change the approach when engaging with different users to reduce any unnecessary stress caused by going too technical.

What are your proudest achievements from your time at Cloud Cover IT?

Being able to get two products successfully uploaded onto the app store within Microsoft [our Microsoft Teams apps check.it and gauge.it] has been a very proud achievement for my team and me.

What is the biggest lesson that you have learned?

That it’s far better to work as a team to come up with a solution than to try and think of one in isolation – something that has been put to the test over the last couple of years as the team has adapted to initially remote working and now hybrid working.

Do you have any advice for anyone looking to join the tech industry today?

I would recommend that newcomers start by learning low code as it is a great way to begin building that development structure in an easy environment. There are also lots of communities out there that can help and support you, utilise them.

We’ve discussed how the tech industry has changed; how do you think it will continue to change?

I believe that as the cloud continues to grow, the way users understand and consume data will head toward a more interactive future. I’m looking forward to seeing if this does happen, and the impact it will have not only on Cloud Cover IT, but the whole industry.

Are there any exciting projects that the Digital Transformation team are working on right now (that you can tell us about)?

There are a lot of exciting things happening in the Microsoft Teams and Power Platform environment right now that we are focusing on. I can’t give too many details, but there are a few things in the pipeline at the moment that will make the rest of 2022 very exciting!

Where would you like CCIT to be in 10 years’ time?

I would like to be able to look back to this point and see continuous growth between now and then. Part of this would be continuing to grow our presence both throughout the UK and internationally as we continue to grow as a company. 

Alasdair will be hosting a free virtual event on the 15th of July 2022. Book your spot here to attend ‘Lunch and Learn: Improve Employee Wellbeing with gauge.it’ and hear Alasdair discuss our new Microsoft Teams app.

You can follow Alasdair on Linked in here.

The post Celebrating 10 Years of Cloud Cover IT: An Interview with Alasdair Gauld, Head of Digital Transformation appeared first on Flyte.

Over the past 15 years or so, I have had the pleasure of working with and for many companies in various roles and positions. From In-House IT to the Managed Service providers. The big to the small.

Companies all need varying degrees of support and that choice of how we decide to protect and provide for our IT from the passing of time, security concerns, and day-to-day issues can be a tricky one to navigate. We can employ a whole team, employ an individual, hand a current staff member who is reasonably IT Savvy the keys to the server room, or look to the world of Managed Service Providers.

Each has its benefits and pitfalls.

Having your own team on payroll running around your office with your business interests being their top priority sounds like the best solution here. Right?

For the most part yes. You get the day-to-day staff familiarity, availability, historical knowledge, and care that an employee would give for his or her company. However, lurking in the shadows is that question all employers hate to ask themselves… what if this employee left? What uncalculated and irreplaceable knowledge is the business losing from their departure? What will happen to the remaining members of the team?

I’ve known many companies that have a team of 3 or 4 core IT staff that have been around through the tough times and the busy times. The failed migrations and the big disasters. The team can be found reminiscing about “the bad times” in the IT dept after a hard day’s work. They depend on each other’s gaps in knowledge, ability to work late, and a good sense of humour to get through challenging days. But like all good teams, it needs the group to succeed. Budget cuts or changes in business strategy can push some to the fringes and into the eyes and ears of other companies looking to refresh and reinvigorate these IT workers. A story that I have seen many times before. When one leaves the others are given the workload that’s leftover and the exodus begins.

It’s not all gloom and doom. If managed and cared for correctly, the in-house IT dept can be a thriving place where well-executed change and performance gains are attributes recognized company-wide.

Companies that opt for the Managed Service Provider have a different set of challenges and rewards to deal with.

Who do you award the contract to? The company in your city that can be on-site in 10-15 minutes, or the huge UK wide provider with the flashy sales pitch but next to no geographical presence in your area? A tricky call for sure for anyone tasked with ensuring that someone looks after the IT operations of your company. The reward for this strategy, if placed in the right hands of course, is a constant headcount of skilled and accountable IT support personnel. Account management and escalation points that would not exist in-house. Clout when it comes to procurement and project management expertise. A depth of technological experience that obscures traditional in-house teams. Most importantly a scalable and reliable IT presence on the books and peace of mind for you and the management you report to.

The cons of this strategy? For most this comes down to cost. There is a middle ground where Managed Services Providers sit within industry sizes, and it tends to be in the Small to Medium-sized enterprise markets where they thrive. Striking a balance between cost, risk, and reward they operate and provide an ideal solution for most businesses in this sphere.

Having sat on both sides of the fence, I cannot honestly say which one I prefer outright. I love being in an environment where I can speak face to face with my customer base, be that colleagues or clients, and working with a team that has potential and a desire to help and enhance IT for others.

Sitting here at my desk at Cloud Cover, I genuinely feel that I have both feet on the side of this virtual fence and as a result I, and the customers we serve, reap the benefits. We operate with the sincerity, care and concern of an in-house IT operation but have the in-depth knowledge and expertise of a managed service provider. We don’t run a heavy sales operation like the huge UK wide operations that make our clients feel like a drop in the ocean or just another client in a database.

Making the transition back from in-house IT to outsourced was a tricky decision for me at the end of last year. Ending an 8-year run in a seat working for your own company was a tough call but having landed here at Cloud Cover IT, I can with no doubt say that the choice I made was the right one and I don’t regret it for one minute.  

If you would like to learn more about Cloud Cover IT’s Managed Service Solution please email sales@cloudcoverit.co.uk or visit our FAQ.

The post IT Managed Services v In-House IT: What’s the Difference? appeared first on Flyte.

Commenting on the new role appointment, Steven said: “I am delighted to see Owen take on this new role heading up the Sales and Marketing activity of Cloud Cover IT.  In the time since he joined us, the company has seen record growth, and clients are seeing the value of having a partner for their own digital journey.  Owen has been central to crafting and leading that message and there is no one better suited to accelerate our future growth.”

Owen added “I feel privileged to be part of one of Scotland’s most exciting IT companies, where I get to work with great customers and hugely talented colleagues every day. My new role represents another growth opportunity for me personally, and I look forward to working alongside the leadership team to ensure we continue to strengthen our service offering and empower more organisations with technology solutions.”

Cloud Cover IT is a Glasgow based Digital solutions business. They have been a Microsoft Gold Partner since 2016 and have previously been recognised as Scottish Scale up of the year.

The post Cloud Cover IT Announces the Appointment of Owen Smith as Sales & Marketing Director appeared first on Flyte.

Well, a very wise human probably once said that we should never try to write what has already been well illustrated in an infographic so…

Between Windows 365 and AVD, organisations have two awesome options to explore; what suits best depends on individual drivers and required use case.

From conversations with customers so far, the following appear to be key considerations:

Unique Use Case

Windows 365 offers a dedicated, personalised Cloud PC for each licenced user with organisations choosing from available Cloud PC SKU specifications. AVD can deliver pooled desktops for users which share the underlying compute power, and can also be used to stream an individual application rather than a full desktop.

Available IT Resources

Windows 365 is a complete Microsoft service with Cloud PC’s simply provisioned from within Microsoft Endpoint Manager (MEM). AVD does require expertise to set-up and manage, but for the same reason is highly flexible and can be configures to support more complex requirements.

Pricing (aka cold hard cash)

Windows 365 operates on a fixed user subscription price model which gives a predictable cost which organisations can plan and account for. AVD on the other hand operates a consumption-based price model meaning costs can vary depending on resources utilised.

In summary, both Windows 365 and AVD are powerful solutions which both very much have a role to play; as with most technology buying decisions, the best solution depends on your requirements.

At Cloud Cover IT, I’m fortunate to be surrounded by talented Microsoft technologists who have more experience than they often care to mention. Our mission is focussed around supporting organisations with their digital journeys and supporting you to make technology decisions which benefit and empower you.

The post Blog: Windows 365 vs Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) appeared first on Flyte.

Drygate Brewing Co has been making beer in the historic heart of Glasgow since 2014. With community at its core, there was no question on where Scotland’s Headquarters for Euro 2020 should be.

Oooooohhh!

The brewery, restaurant and bar are a hive of activity with press and media all watching Scotland’s every move throughout its time in the tournament. The SFA is hosting “Scotland HQ” Live every morning with Gordon Smart and featuring a host of famous faces, from on and off the pitch, including Darren Fletcher, Steve Clark, Martin Compston, The Fratelli’s, Josh Taylor and fans.

The broadcast is streamed across social media on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to celebrate Scotland’s involvement in a major tournament since 1998.

Clyde 1 Super Scoreboard is broadcast live from Drygate too – while the games are on.

Yes Sir…

Ultra fast connectivity is essential to make sure you are kept up to speed with all that’s going on at Scotland’s HQ – and there was a lot of prep that went into that. With a short space of time to get everything ready amidst a global pandemic, Cloud Cover IT and HighNet Telecoms worked together to get the job done.

Just like Steve Clarke’s squad, HighNet and Cloud Cover IT rallied together to ensure everything was ready for tournament kick-off.  Media were ready to commence broadcasting and Drygate were streaming the live feeds.

From getting permits to digging holes and laying fibre cables to ensure Gigabit connectivity, we had successfully established an improved connectivity solution to Drygate ready to support all media operations well before the first whistle of Euro 2020.

A project like this can often take several months, working together, we pulled this project off in only a few weeks – not an easy task. There were a few unexpected tackles along the way, but we pressed on to ensure the project was a win.  

…I Can Boogie

With Euro 2020 in full swing, the team at Cloud Cover IT will be cheering Team Scotland all the way!

The post Getting Drygate HQ ready for Scotland’s first major tournament in 23 years appeared first on Flyte.

ShiftPlan is simple. It’s a responsive resourcing portal to align skilled resources with capacity gaps in your establishment, on-demand. We’ve designed ShiftPlan alongside Riverside TMA as one secure, integrated, cloud-based solution making it easy to use and implement. 

But what does it do? 

ShiftPlan allows you to manage resources your way. It allows you to connect with staffing resources directly so you can pick who you hire, validate your timesheets and pay staff directly. 

With three dedicated portals – Administrator, User and Operator, these portals empower your local authority to engage in opportunities and fill temporary shortages. 

The Administrator portal controls access to the system, typically sites and users, and provides visibility of activity and reporting. 

The Operator portal enables a dedicated point of contact to enter details of their requirements and to view and select the right candidates for the job. 

The User portal has been designed to empower candidates to take control of their availability, engagement opportunity and timesheet recording. All in one place! 

Why should I use ShiftPlan? 

ShiftPlan is easy to use. We’ve listened to your aches and pains with previous systems so ShiftPlan has been designed to save time and avoid complicated systems and training. It’s a system that works for you. 

You can integrate with APIs. We understand you will have existing tools that work well for you, so why not create a seamless experience. ShiftPlan can be integrated to other software easily. 

It’s cost effective. Hire and manage staffing resources for a fixed monthly fee with no recruitment costs or limits to hiring numbers. There’s no hidden fees. 

It’s secure. All your data is protected as the software complies with the highest standards of security. 

Ready to get started? Email the team today:

For more information, visit https://www.myshiftplan.co.uk/ 

The post ShiftPlan: Manage your supply teacher workforce appeared first on Flyte.

23, 24, 25…

Okay, I was just setting a timer.  Now, I’m ready to start. 

Since the late 1980’s a growing number of people have been getting more done using a simple method that promotes short periods of uninterrupted, focused work with structured, timed breaks in between the work periods.  Developed by Francesco Cirillo, it is called the Pomodoro Method and is named after the tomato shaped kitchen timer that he used to time his own work sessions and breaks. 

The Pomodoro Method has both grown in popularity and has even spawned a number of variations on the theme of structured work and break periods, mostly because it is both simple and, it really works. 

Team members have used this method across the business for years and, when one of the Cloud Cover IT developers suggested making a native Microsoft Teams App to enable the Pomodoro Method through Teams, we couldn’t wait to getting the project up and running. 

For the uninitiated, The Pomodoro Method has six simple steps: 

1. Select a task (trying to do two things is a sure way to achieve neither) 

2. Set your timer to 25 minutes and start.  

3. Work (Ideally uninterrupted and without distractions) 

4. Stop when the timer runs out and set the timer for a 5 minute break 

5. Repeat for a total of four work / break cycles 

6. After four cycles, take a longer break of 30 – 60 minutes then repeat 

One of the big themes over the last year has been the dramatic change in work practices for many and the different distractions and priorities that people have to deal with when home working.  Another is the importance of a new focus on wellbeing and specifically, wellbeing at work. 

So, very soon, we will be offering a free download of our Native Teams app for anyone wanting to use the Pomodoro Method in their working.  It might well be the first Teams App that you have added to the platform so, if you would like to learn more about how we developed it and, see how to find and install apps into your Microsoft Teams, why not join us on our next Lunch and Learn on March 30^th.  You can book a place on it here: Eventbrite

That’s my timer just gone off! Time to boil the kettle.

The post Power Apps: Pomodoro appeared first on Flyte.

Application development can seem like it can take forever to come to fruition but with Power Apps, this is not the case.  Power Apps accelerate the development through pre-built templated and drag-and-drop functionality to make it customisable for your needs. It’s as simple as that!  

Innovation for everyone 

 Power Apps has modernised workplaces by removing barriers that keep ideas in the boardroom. It enables users to take those ideas and turn them into applications. No matter what the skillset, employees can add value to the business quickly and securely by developing innovative applications to reduce inefficiencies and solve everyday business challenges.  

Accelerating your business growth  

Connect your applications to your data at the touch of a button. React quickly with real time insights and utilise your data. Data is integral to business growth and as companies do more with data, the more advanced they become.  

Bringing AI into your workplace

The Power Platform allows you to automate manual processes with AI-infused complements that enable you to leverage built-in intelligence and discover actionable insights. With over 50% of work activities, globally, having the potential to be automated using current technology, why would you not want to invite AI to the table?  

Ultimately, Power Apps is a platform for innovation. It’s about embracing technology to better business processes and empower staff to implement applications. It’s driving forward change and, it has never been easier.  

With low-code and high productivity at its heart, Power Apps can minimise cost and support rapid change. You can build without risk and clear the way for innovation.  

Our next Lunch and Learn will demonstrate the possibilities within the Power Apps platform, not one to be missed! Join us on Tuesday 30^th March at 12noon. Sign up today to secure your spot: Eventbrite

The post Power apps: Changing how we work appeared first on Flyte.

For us, the most exciting thing about Teams and the whole Microsoft 365 Eco-System is the fact that it feels like an organic being. It does not stay still. While at times it might feel overwhelming to try and keep ahead of the new features and applications that Microsoft rolls out, it’s great to know that Microsoft are listening to what we want through Microsoft Teams User voice site.  

Microsoft Teams User voice site is a place where users of the product can suggest and vote on features that they would like to see. Something few applications actively encourage. 

The end goal for Microsoft is that they want you to start your machine in the morning, open Teams and never need to leave it. All communication and collaboration is done in Teams with colleagues sharing documents or working simultaneously on documents. Data comes from other applications into Teams and other web-based applications sit within your Teams environment. All these things are possible within the Teams application and are becoming easier to integrate and apply.  

There so many elements to Microsoft Teams it can be hard to keep track but that is what we are here for! From a simple introduction to the platform to the art of the possible, there’s loads that can be done by combining existing features of Teams with customer developments with other areas of the Microsoft platform like Power Apps. 

Something is always happening at Microsoft. That is why keeping up to date with new features is important to us. Keeping on top of what is new and upcoming is something we see as a vital role for our clients. The more we know, the better we can advise on getting the most out of Teams.  

We’re excited to see the release of Microsoft’s Employee Experience Platform, Viva which is being rolled out.

Missed our Lunch and Learn event? Catch up here:

The post Microsoft Teams: We’ve got your back appeared first on Flyte.